Pig-breaking machine



March 22 1927. f 1,622,029

J. P. DOVEL PIG BREAKING MACHINE Filed Jan. s. 1921V 4 Sheets-sheen 27 j?" 4@ 4 31 I 5 44@ L r ,N l sz y ZG L 43 )nl F16-.z as

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... I "."j 15 a7 ATTORNEY March 22 1,622,029

J. P. Doval.

PIG BREAK ING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5. 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR James P ovet ATTRNEY.

March 22 1927.

J. P. DovEL PIG BREAKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 1921 "4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Il ,Illlll lNVE-.NTOR James F3 Dovel F555: in

` ATTORNEY March 22, 1927.

1,622,029 J. P. DOVEL n PIG BREAKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5. 1921 4 Sheets-.Sheet 4 Ficj. S

INVENTOR James F? Dovel BY AT TOR NEY Patented Mar. 22, 1927.

UNITED STATES JAMES r. "Doveri, or BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

PIG-BREAKING MACHINE.

Application tiled January 3, 1921. Serial No. 434,433.

My invention relates to a power machine for breaking pig iron, rock and the like.

ln the present practice, pig` iron, as cast in beds, is broken by manual labor by Sledge hammers or by drop weights, and both of these methods are crude, cumbersome and expensive. rllhe art has long` been in need ot a thoroughly practical pig` breaker in the form ot' an air or steam hammer which was comparatively light, could be quickly und easily handled by one man, and which would, with a quick sharp blow, break the pig into the desired section. There are oertainfundamental ditliculties which have prevented.` heretofore, the 4development ofsuoh a device, these being the diliciculty ot designing a. hammer which was .capable of striking' blows or" the requisite power against irregular objects disposed at varying angles without causing so frequent 'fracture of the hammer head or pistonrod carrying it as to make the device practically useless.

l, further diculty was found to be that the hammer must be capable of striking a short and 'aowertul stroke and must at the same time be so cushioned that it will have no objectionable rebound it it. fails to strike its objective, because. it the air or steam is' trapped ahead ot the piston and no relief is provided the back pressure will cause the hammer to fly Vbackup and get .out ot con# trol so that its practical usefulness is deeated.

I have for many years given careful and exhaustive study to the problem of developing a power hammer whichV would be free oit these `disadvantages and l have overcome them in the following manner, I avoid the frequent breakage .ofthe hammer or piston rod by forming 'the hammer, piston rod and piston as an integral steel forging free ot any joint or part that can work loose or.;

weaken the device, and I have designed a special sectional housing which will afford the hammer the maximum support or reenforcement without. interfering with ita um mal operation.

I control the pistou by providing for its power stroke afcushion capable of regulation or `control and I, obtain the best results from cushion which is exposed through a controllable port to a source of fluid pressure supply which will ,absorb the excess cushion pressure and yet .supply the necessary pressure for lifting the Piston to its initial position. To facilitate :the control ot the hamof pig` iron to be brok-en, and to this end l have "designed a bed which willV support both the sow and pigs in such position that they can be broken to pieces of the desired smallness in size without at any time transmitting the full stroke to the .bed itselt, the irregular outline of the bed affording always a proper support tor the easy breaking or" the pig metal.

My invention tur-ther comprises the novel details of construction and arrangements ot parts, which are hereinafter more particularly described and in which their preferred embodiment only are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form part ot this Speecation, and in' which Fio'. 1 is a vertical sectional view through the breaker machine taken on .the line l`l of Fig, 2, and showing` the piston rod broken away to make clear the tact that it is integral with boththe piston and hammer.

Fig.. 2 is a cross sectional view partly broken away taken on .the line 2-2 ot Fig, 1.

Fig. 3 is apartial .sectional view taken at right angles to the sectionV ot Fig. 1

Figs. l and `5 are detail cross sectional views ofthe Valve in dit-erent operation positions,

Fig, 6 is ,an enlarged top plan View ot .the breaker mechanism, f

Fig. 7 is. an enlarged perspective View of a portion 0f the L breaker hed.-

, ,8 is anenlarged .side-elevation partly broken away of the breaker mechanism.

Fig. 9 iS ,an assembly view showing;` the breaker mecl'ianism; and

l@ is a plan view ot the breaker bed.

ll is a detail view in side elevation of the valve,

Similar reference numerals reier to similar `parts throughout the drawings.

In the en'ibodiujrent illustrated, l Show my invention supported by au overhead crane l by means ot tackle 2 which enga-ges a bail hanger 3, the lower ends of whichare bent into parailelism and are passed vertically through the cylinder head4 and top liar-ige 5 on the cylinder 6. These bail ends receive at their lower ends a nut 7 and washer 8 which support a spring 9 coiled about the bail and interposed between the washer and top the flange 5 of the cylinder, thus forming a yielding support which will take all injurious jars from the crane and supporting tackle. The cylinder head 4 is reinforced by bosses 10 where the bail arms pass through it and it is connected by bolts 11 to the flange 5 of the cylinder, the other end of which is provided with a flange 12 that is connected by bolts 13 to top flange 14 formed in halves on the two sections 15 and 16, which together form the guide and housing for the breaking hammer 17.

As shown in Fig. 8, the hammer housing sections l5 and 16 areprovided with vertical abutting flanges 18 and are recessed to form a chamber 22 in which the breaking hammer 17 is reciprocable and which chamber is closed overhead except for an opening for the piston rod 23 which connects the breaking hammer to the piston 24 in the cylinder 6. A split stuflng box 25 surrounds the piston in the top of the chamber 22 and prevents any leakage about the piston rod from the cylinder. This piston rod is formed as an integral forging with the piston and breaking hammer which will alone prevent the constant fracture of the piston rod .due to t-he heavy and angular lstrains and stresses to which it is subjected in the normal functioning of the breaking hammer, which stresses invariably tend to fracture the piston rod at or near its juncture with the breaking hammer or piston.

This hammer' is provided along its bottom edge with a sharpened breaker point 17a which projects below the bottom ends of the guides when the hammer is at the full limit of its breaking stroke, the main body of the hammer being braced throughout its stroke by the engagement of its ribs 21 in the housing slots 20.

The motor for driving the breaking hammer is preferably operated by air and comprises the piston 24, the cylinder 6 and the valve mechanism which comprises a valve casing 26 provided with a cylindrical valve chamber therein in which is introduced a bushing 27 in which a rotary valve 28 works. The iiuid pressure, preferably compressed air, is delivered to the valve chamber by means of a flexible hose 29 suitably connected to the pressure inlet port 30 which brings the compressed air on top of the valve. From the valve casing 1 provide a port 31 leading to the upper end of the cylinder 6 and a port 32 leading into the cylinder at a point substantially spaced from the lower end thereof and an exhaust port 33 leading Vto the lower end of the cylinder and provided at an intermediatel point with a regulating screw 34 provided with. a'jam nut 35 and adapted to control the cross sectional area of this port 33. The exhaust port 36 connects with the valve chamber between the-ports 31 and 32 and has a lateral opening through the valve casing into which opening is screwed the pipe 37 (see Fig. 8), which pipe leads downwardly and by suitable littings is caused to discharge the exhaust air from the cylinder through the housing member 15 into the upper part of the housing chamber 22. The valve is provided with a diametric web having suitable annular ends 33 and having along its edge towards the port 31 a short lip 39 and along its edge nearest th-e port 32 a longer lip 40. The lip 39 in the position shown in Fig. 4, has cleared the port 31 to permit the full flow of pressure through the port 31 into the top of the cylinder to make the power stroke, while the lip 40 has cleared the ports 32 and 33 so that both may .exhaust freely through the port 36. lVhen the valve is shifted to its reversing position, see Fig. 5, the'lip 39 moves above the port 31 .and brings the latter into communication with the exhaust 36, while the lip 40 closes the port 32 but leaves the port 33 open to the pressure. supply. In neutral position the valve will clos-e all of the ports 31, 32 and 33 against the admission of pressure. The valve is provided with an operating stem 41 which extends through a suitable packing in one end of the valve chamber that carries a bonnet 42, beyond which the outer end of the stem 41 projects and in which it has a supporting bearing. A crank 43 is made fast on the outer end of the stem and this crank is connected by a link 44 with a crank 45 fast on a. shaft 46, which turns in bearings 47 attached toy the top of the cylinder head. An operating handle 48 is fast on the shaft 46 and has an extension 49 which overhangs the cylinder head and is provided with an adjustable screw 50 which by engagement with the head forms an adjustable stop or limit for the upstroke of the handle. The handle 48 projects downwardly so as to be in convenient position to be manipulated by the operator on the breaking platform 51. On the side of the cylinder 6 opposite the valve casing is a vertical web 52 having a central opening 53 therein into which a handle 54 is inserted and ,made fast for guiding and controlling the breaking apparatus.

rThe breaking platform is preferably supported by suitable structural members above the railroad track 56 so that the car 57 to be loaded can be run under the cast breaker bed 58 which is supported by the cross members 59 of the frame work of the plat-form. This breaker bed is shown more clearly in detail in Figs. 7, 9 and 10 and consists of a long integral casting having spaced longitudinal side members 60 and 61 which are cross connected by webs 62 that are rounded overhead and set below the top level of the members and 61 which have bevelled faces 63 and 64, respectively, inclined downwardly to the top level ol the webs 62. Across the top of the side 61 opposite each web is a raised shoulder 65 which at its inner end merges into the to level of the web 62 and at its outer end is joined to a taper shoulder 66 at the outer edge or the sid-e 6l. The shoulder 6G rises above the level or' the. shoulder 65 and the latter has embedded therein a section of steel rail 67 with its head projecting above the top level or' the shoulder 65. This bed plate in length corresponds substantially to' the maxim'uni length ot' sows with attached pigs which will be laid onto the bed with the sows resting on the rail heads 67 and the pigs projecting across the space between the men'ibers 50 and 6l and resting on the member 60. As thus supported 4the metal at no' point has continuous solid support on the bed and both the pigs and the sows can be struck a blow 'by the breaking hammer and will. fracture readily, the hammer for this purpose being guided by the handles 5e and 4S as it is swung under control of the crane above the pigs and sows so as to strike the latter in the desired position. As broken the pieces fall through the openings in the bed into the car below and require no handling.

The operation of the breaking hammer will now be described. Assuming the valve to be in neutral position, the hammer will be in its lowered position to which itdescends by gravity. K To commence Operations the valve is shift-ed to the position in Fig. 5, whereupon compressed air enters the lower end of the cylinder relatively slowly through the port 33 and raises the piston to the top of the cylinder, whereupon the handle 48 is given a quick upward stroke shifting the valve to the position shown in Fic". e and delivering the full air pressure aldove the piston. As the piston starts down the main volume of air below it at iirst has free exhaust through both ports 3Q and 33, thus permitting` the piston to develop rapidly a very powerful stroke At the moment the stroke yis fully under way the valve is quickly shifted to the position shown in Fig'. 5, with the result that the tree exhaust or pressure through the port is shut oli' and the end or the piston stroke is cushioned by the air trapped thereby, which air however it will be noted,- has access through the restricted port 33 back into the air supply sys tem.A In this way I am enabled to maintain a sui'iicient pressure to cushion the stroke and at the same time by permitting the surplus pressure to escape back into the pressure supply system,- avoid a hammer or back jerk to the piston which stops smoothly at the completion of its stroke and then starts back up moving slowly at iirst responsive to the back flow or air pressure through port 33, which back flow commences immediately ai`- ter the piston is brought to rest. rlhe back :flow of air pressure through port 38 will lift the piston vabove port 32 and when the latter port is open to the pressure supply the rapid inflow o'lA air therethrouoh will rapidly lii't the piston to the top oi' the cylinder and raise the hammer' preparatory lor another blow. ,Vhen port 82 is open to the exhaust the restricted inflow of air through port will act to hold the piston just clearing the lower edge oi" the port B2 and the hammer will be raised up enough in its guides to clear the work. Under these conditions a slight leakage of air from port 33 through port 32 to' the exhaust will occur, but Vthis is neglilfible and it enables the piston to be held in position to respond at once to air pressure admitted below it by port 32. This air leakage can be stopped at any time by moving the valve vi'ace s() into position to blank both ports 32 and 3S, and obviously when thehammer is not in use the air pressure will be shut oil 'from the ports by a service valve. The screw stem 34 can be screwed in until with the normal operating air pressure the hammer will cushion propei-'ly at the end or its power stroke and will return at the desired rate of speed and when so adjusted no further chang-es are needed until the air pressure varies substantially. This cushioning of thelpiston` stroke is one or the' most important features or my invention as otherwise the apparatus would be in'ipraetical should the hammer tend to jerk or jump back or 'fail to operate smoothly. ln practice, the valve handle is normally operated with a quick up and down movement, the quickness with which the valve is manipulated being adapt'edpto control both the length and thehpo'wer of the resultant hammer stroke. This feature is most important as it enables Va skilled operator-.to strike the article to be broken with quick short strokes of just the requisite itorcc to' fracture the article and it economiz'es in ythe consumption of air and gives a flexible cent-rol ot operation which is essential for the universal use of the hammer. lt is to be observed that the exhaust air is discharged into the hammer guide chamber m This is also` an AJA.

important i'eatur'e as it delivers such oil Vas l is entrained therein to keep the guides tor the breaking hammer lubricated and thc erhaust or au' past the herinner keeps the hain mer housing and guides clear of dirt,'giit p and particles oi' metal which would otherwise rapidlywear it out. l

The sides ot the' housing sections l5, le ar cut away at 18a, as shown in Fig. 8, to point that will be above the hammer in its lowest position andY thus will permit a tool lill to be introduced above the hammer to tighten the gland of the stuffing box 25, or to replace its packing.

This invention is not intended to be restricted in scope to the specific embodiments shown, but contemplates such modifications as come within the spirit and scope of the claims. p

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new' and desire to secure by Letters Pat-ent, is

l. In a power breaker mechanism, a fluid pressure motor comprising a cylinder, a piston rod having at one end an enlarged piston and at the other end an enlarged breaker head, a split stufiing box for said rod, and guides for the breaker head rigid with the cylinder, the piston rod and breaker head being integral and means utilizing uid pressure to cushion the power stroke of the piston.

2. In a power breaker mechanism, a. fluid pressure motor comprising a cylinder, a piston, a piston rod and a breaker head enlarged relatively to the piston rod, a splitl lower head for the cylinder carrying a split stuffing box for said piston rod, and guides for the breaker head, the piston, rod and breaker head being integral and the guides rigid with the sections of the splitcylinder head, and means utilizing Huid pressure to cushion the power stroke of the piston.

3. A power breaker mechanism, comprising a fluid pressure motor having a piston and piston rod, a breaker head on the piston rod, and guides for the head, the piston, rod and head being integral, and the guides being `formed in vertical sections which are bolted to each other and to the cylinder and form the bottom head therefor.

1l. A power breaker mechanism, comprising a fluid pressure motor having the normal supply and exhaust ports for each end, a breaking hammer operable by the motor, and means which comprise an auxiliary port adapted to have communication with the supply pressure supporting and to cushion the power stroke of the hammer by fluid pressure in communication with a source of motor fluid under pressure.

5. A power breaker mechanism, comprising a fluid pressure motor having the normal supply and exhaust ports for each end, a breaking' hammer operable by the motor, means which comprise an auxiliary port adapted to have communication with the supply pressure supporting and to cushion the power stroke of the hammer by fluid pressure in communication with a source of motor operating fluid pressure, and means to regulate the freedom of such communication.

6. A power breaker mechanism, comprising a fluid pressure motor having a cylinder and piston, a breaking hammer operable by the piston, and mechanism to control the motor comprising a valve chamber having an inlet port, full sized ports opening into thc upper and lower ends of' the motor, the piston being reciprocable between said latter ports and below the lower port, a restricted port opening into the motor below the lower port, an exhaust port, and a valve designed with relation to said ports to open the restricted port to the pressure supply when the upper port is exposed to the exhaust.

7. A power breaker mechanism, comprising a iiuid pressure motor having a cylinder and piston, a breaking hammer operable by the piston, and mechanism to control the motor comprising a valve chamber having an inlet port, full sized ports opening into the upper and lower ends of the motor, the piston being reciprocable between said latter ports and below the lower port, a restricted port opening' into the motor below the lower port, an exhaust port, and a valve designed with relation to said ports to open the restricted port to the pressure supply when the upper port is exposed to the exhaust, and to open both the ports entering the lower end of the cylinder to the exhaust when the upper port fully open to the pressure supply.

8. A power breaker mechanism, compris--V ing a fiuid pressure motor, a breaking hainmer operable by the motor, guides for the hammer, and means to exhaust the motor through said guides. f

9. A power breaker mechanism, comprising a fluid pressure motor, a. breaking` hammer operable by the motor, guides for the hammer, and means to exhaust the motor through said guides comprising an exhaust pipe which delivers into the upper portion of the housing above the hammer.

l0. ik power breaker mechanism, comprising a fluid pressure motor, a breaking hammer, a hammer housing and guide rigid with the motor and comprising side guides which are extended to maintain engagementwith the hammer until its upper edge has passed below the housing', the hammer having an intermediate tapered breaking edge which projects substantially .below said side guides.

ll. A power breaker mechanism, comprising a fluid pressure motor, a breaking hammer, a hammer housing and guide rigid with the motor and comprising side guides which are extended to maintain engagement with the hammer throughout its full stroke, the hammer having an intermediate Ytapered breaking edge which projects substantiallyV below said side guides, the housing between said side guides being cut away deeply to give the lower end of the housing an inverted U-shape in side elevation.

l2. A power breaker mechanism, comprising a fluid pressure motor, a breaking hammer, hammer housing` and guide rigid with the motor and comprising vertical sections each having side bolting flanges and a vertical guide seat, side guide ribs in said housing and a taper breaking edge projecting below the plane of said ribs.

13. A power breaker mechanism, comprising a reciprocable breaking hammer, guides therefor, a motor to reciprocate the hammer, and a spring support tor the mechanism.

1d. A power breaker mechanism, comprising a reciprocable breaking hammer, guides therefor, a motor to reciprocate the hammer, a crane, and spring means to supportl the mechanism trom said crane.

15. A power breaker mechanism, comprising a reciprocable breaking hammer, guides therefor, a motor to reciprocate the hammer, a crane, spring means to support the mechanism Jtrom said crane comprising a flexible suspension element, a bail having vertical ends slidably connected to the motor, and springs which transmit the load of the mechanism to said bail.

1G. A power breaker mechanism, comprising a motor, a breaking hammer reciprocable thereby, a flexible suspension means tor the motor, and a guiding handle on the motor.

17. A power breaker mechanism, comprising a motor, a breaking hammer reciprocable thereby, a iiexible suspension means for the motor, a guiding handle on the motor, and a motor control arm disposed adjacent to the handle.

18. A power breaker mechanism, comprising a motor, a breaking hammer reciproca-ble thereby, a flexible suspension means tor the motor, a guiding handle on the motor, and a motor control arm disposed adjacent to the handle in position tor the operator to grasp the handle and arm in his hands and utilize both in guiding the mechanism.

19. ln a power breaker mechanism, a breaker bed elongated to receive a sow lengthwise thereon, spaced shoulders on the bed disposed to engage and support the sow, and central apertures for the discharge through the bed ot broken pieces;

20. ln a power breaker mechanism, a breaker bed elongated to receive a sow lengthwise thereon, raised sow supporting shoulders on the bed, and central apertures for the discharge through the bed oi broken pieces, said shoulders having steel rails castjointed therein with their heads projecting above said shoulders.

21. In a power breaker mechanism, a breaker bed elongated to receive a sow lengthwise thereon, raised spaced sow supportingshoulders on the bed, and central apertures for the discharge through the bed ot' broken pieces, the bed on each side having sloping surfaces leading downwardly towards said apertures.

22. ln a power breaker mechanism, a breaker bed elongated to receive a sow lengthwise thereon, raised sow supporting shoulders on the bed and central apertures for the discharge through the bed of broken pieces, the ribs between apertures being narrow and disposed below the bed level.

23. In a power breaker mechanism, a breaker bed elongated to receive al sow lengthwise thereon, raised sow supporting shoulders on the bed and central apertures tor the discharge through the bed ot' broken pieces, the ribs between apertures being narrow and disposed below the bed level with their top surfaces rounded and disposed in transverse alignment with said shoulders.

24. A power breaker mechanism comprising a fluid pressure motor, a breaking hammer operable by the motor, and means to cushion the power stroke of the hammer by fluid pressure, said means comprising a regulable relief port to control the cushion.

25. A power breaker mechanism comprising a fluid pressure motor having the usual main supply and exhaust ports for its ends, a hammer operable by the motor, means comprising an auxiliary port entering the cylinder below the adjacent lower main port to cushion the hammers power stroke by a partially trapped body of air, and means acting through said air cushion to bring the piston to rest free ofrebound.

26. 1n a power breaker mechanism, a iuid f pressure motor having a cylinder, a piston,

valve means controlling the supply and exhaust ot fluid pressure to said cylinder, a breaker hammer operated by the piston, and fluid pressure supply and exhaust ports coordinated with said valve and cylinder and adapted at the commencement of the hammers stroke to admit full pressure above and to provide a free exhaust below the piston, and at the conclusion of the pistons power stroke to admit a restricted pressure lbelow and to provide al free exhaust above said piston, said cylinder having an intermediate exhaust port and a restricted terminal relief port all controlled by said valve means.

ln testimony whereof I alhx my signature.

JAMES P. DOVEL.

lOS 

